If there’s one place foodies and people who cook loves to go its a farmer’s market. Farmer’s markets have many fruits and veggies that are raised locally within a few hours drive of the market. And most of the time the produce is fresh and not sprayed with pesticides and chemicals. Plus many markets also sells many crafts, foods, plants, and other items that anyone can enjoy. Farmer’s markets are a very good thing for any community to have. They keep revenue and tax money in the community and they might even spur people to eat healthier. So I do support farmer’s markets and when I read this story from Guntersville it shocked me.
A 81 year-old man was arrested by the local police for selling produce at a farmer’s market after officials claimed the produce the guy was selling was not local. The guy named Vesta Noles told the officials where his produce was coming from but it could not be verified. The ordinance the city council passed for the farmers market was to prevent someone from going to a supermarket and buying produce and then claiming it was grown locally. Right now both sides of the story has not been put out but most commenters are saying one thing. Do the police have better things to do then chase down a 81 year-old guy. Plus this farmers market is actually going to the people’s houses to make sure the produce is grown locally. I really do think that is going to the extreme.
From WAFF-TV
And how do you define local; does someone from let’s say Gadsden or Fort Payne that grows local produce wants to sell at the Guntersville Farmers Market has a chance to do so. They are not in the local area but in the regional area. Here is my message to the Guntersville Farmers Market and the manager Grover Williams. Either let this guy sell his produce or give him his $90 back. Farmer’s markets should give anyone a chance to sell produce, crafts, or anything homemade even if they are from places such as Huntsville or Birmingham. Just like the two local farmer’s markets here in Calhoun County in Anniston and Jacksonville. There are farmers and vendors from the local area but some come from Gadsden, Birmingham, Clanton and even West Georgia. A farmer’s market should bring many people from the local community to interact with people and buy things. The Guntersville Farmer’s Market has to act like some big dog government group and go out to people’s homes and make sure the produce is grown locally; sad!
Here in Calhoun County we have two local farmer’s markets that brings out many vendors who sell produce, crafts, foods, plants, and even local honey. The farmers market at Zinn Park in Anniston is open every Saturday morning from 8am to 12 noon though September.
The Jacksonville Farmer’s Market is behind the town square and operates every Saturday morning from 7-11am through November and on Monday evenings from 4-8pm through late August. For more information go to http://jacksonvillealfarmersmarket.com/.
Related articles
- Man Arrested at Guntersville Farmer’s Market Accused of Selling Non-Local Produce (whnt.com)
- Zinn Park Farmers Market (geekalabama.com)
